LASIK Eye Surgery and Near Vision Eye Problems

Reviewed by Leslie Doctor, M.D.

LASIK Eye Surgery may be appropriate for some patients who have near vision eye problems. LASIK is a method of Laser Vision Correction that can correct nearsightedness or myopia, farsightedness or hyperopia and astigmatism. Nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism are common refractive problems that cause blurring of vision. Nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism are common refractive problems that cause blurring of vision. It is important to understand the effect, if any, of using Laser Eye Surgery to correct these eye problems on your near vision.

Near Vision & Correction of Myopia with LASIK Eye Surgery

Myopia or nearsightedness is an eye problem that occurs when either the eye is too long or the cornea is too curved. In either case it results in light, that enters through the pupil, being focused in front of the Retina which causes a blurring of distance vision so that things far away become less clear and things up close remain relatively clear depending on the degree of myopia that you have. People who wear eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct their myopia are able to see clearly at distance until they reach the age of about 40 when they begin to develop the normal aging eye condition called Presbyopia. As a result of Presbyopia and the loss of focusing ability for near vision, sometimes people who are nearsighted are able to see quite clearly by simply removing their eyeglasses. This allows the eyes’ to benefit from the nearsighted optics of the eye being uncorrected and focusing too close thus providing clear near vision even without correction. Nearsighted or myopic patients who have Laser Vision Correction such as LASIK or really any type of Laser Eye Surgery are permanently correcting their distance vision with the laser if they are already Presbyopic or will soon become Presbyopic need to consider that they will lose the ability to retain near vision by removing their eyeglasses and will in all likelihood need either reading glasses or may want to consider have their near vision corrected with monovision LASIK.

Near Vision & Correction of Hyperopia with LASIK Eye Surgery

Hyperopia or farsightedness is an eye problem that occurs when either the eye is too shot or the cornea is too flat. In either case it results in light, that enters through the pupil, being focused behind the Retina which causes a blurring of near vision if it is slight or distance vision and near vision if it is moderate or severe. Objects up close become less clear and things far away remain relatively clear depending on the degree of hyperopia that you have. People who wear eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct their mild farsightedness are able to see clearly at distance until they reach the age of about 40 when they begin to develop the normal aging eye condition called Presbyopia. As a result of Presbyopia and the loss of focusing ability for near vision, people who are hyperopic experience near vision problems much more noticeably than people who suffer from myopia. Farsighted or hyperopic patients who have Laser Vision Correction such as LASIK or really any type of Laser Eye Surgery who are already Presbyopic or will soon become Presbyopic need to consider that they will find that they quickly lose the ability to retain near vision by using their natural “accommodation” or eye focusing ability and will in all likelihood need either reading glasses or may want to consider have their near vision corrected with monovision LASIK. Depending on you age and the degree of hyperopia being corrected, for many hyperopic patients LASIK or any type of Laser Eye Surgery may not be as good a vision correction choice as a Multifocal Intraocular Lens Implant (IOL) that can correct both distance and near vision thus treating both eye problems more effectively.

Near Vision & Correction of Astigmatism with LASIK Eye Surgery

Astigmatism is an eye problem that occurs when the cornea has an unequal curvature so that it actually produces two distinct images of light. Astigmatism results in light, that enters through the pupil, being focused in two separate planes which depending on the severity can blurs far vision, near vision or both near and far vision. Astigmatism often occurs with myopia or hyperopia and may also occur by itself. Depending on the nature of the astigmatism and whether it occurs with myopia or hyperopia people who wear eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct their astigmatism are able to see clearly at distance until they reach the age of about 40 when they begin to develop the normal aging eye condition called Presbyopia. As a result of Presbyopia and the loss of focusing ability for near vision patients with astigmatism who have Laser Vision Correction such as LASIK or really any type of Laser Eye Surgery are permanently correcting their distance vision with the laser if they are already Presbyopic or will soon become Presbyopic need to consider that they in all likelihood need either reading glasses or may want to consider have their near vision corrected with monovision LASIK.